Those Damn UV Rays

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I recently read an article about how California has made it illegal for minors to use a tanning bed. The legislature says that the bill is intended to "improve the health and well-being of Californians."
I can definitely see where they are coming from, but I feel that California is making a decision with a lack of research and complete understanding of the pros that come along with tanning.
Obviously if you tan excessively for a long period of time the you are putting yourself in a risky situation. I worked in a tanning salon for two years and women that had been tanning for 20 years, every day, looked terrible. Their skin was leather, dark, ad just nasty. I could argue that it would be the same story if they worked outside for 20 years everyday... but I will leave that argument be.

Anyways, it has been proven that tanning:

-Puts people in a better mood. Gotta love that Vitamin D.

-Reduces risk of serious sunburn, which could do much worse damage. It's true, as ironically as it sounds. If you are planning on going on a cruise or outdoor adventure soon where you are likely to be burned, it would be a HEALTHY choice to tan a couple times a week for a month or so to lessen that potential second degree burn.

-Helps with aches and sores in the muscles. Tanning warms the muscles up and relieves serious stiffness. Doctors will sometimes actually tell their patients they should consider temporarily tanning to help with aches.

-Helps skin conditions like acne and rashes. Anyone who has tanned can probably say that their acne lightened up a bit after a couple times in the tanning bed. As for skin rashes, I actually had a doctor tell me about 2 years ago that I should tan about 2 times a week so my skin would go back to normal. IT HELPS. And it did.


I am not advocating tanning to tan. People that have memberships for years at a time are definitely putting themselves in harms way, but tanning should not be made illegal to anyone, even minors. I got that awful rash when I was 16. If it has been illegal for me to tan, it would have taken probably months (until summer arrived) for it to go away. The tanning salon I worked at anybody under the age of 18 needed a parents signature, and anyone under 16 needed the parents supervision with every tan.
It's not all bad for you. Just don't be stupid.